When England are searching for something more than a pure goal-scorer, an
intelligent link-up player, people will remember how wonderful Rooney was

As is so often the case, Wayne Rooney will only be fully appreciated when he has gone; when England are searching for something more than a pure goalscorer, for someone with the ability to also knit the play and skilfully create chances for other people. Players like that do not come around too often, hence all the fuss when Rooney was a kid and all the subsequent praise from those in the game, both here and abroad.

Yet still the criticism remains of England’s joint highest all-time scorer, someone who, in the next few years, will surely put serious daylight between himself and Sir Bobby Charlton’s total.

Some of the stick, of course, emanates from the tribal nature of supporters who just cannot bring themselves to admire a Manchester United player. More reasoned observers rightly point to Rooney’s lack of success in major tournaments, a disappointing failure that certainly casts a shadow.

Which brings us around to the European Championship finals next summer, perhaps his last chance to right some wrongs.

Thirty years old next month, Rooney’s body type will not allow him to go on forever. Over the next couple of seasons, speed and agility are bound to take a hit, especially if he is not ultra‑disciplined off the pitch. The 2018 World Cup finals tournament in Russia might therefore prove one step too far.

Even Euro 2016 in France requires assistance. For Rooney to thrive, I think he will need to play in the No 10 role rather than being asked to lead the line. You need plenty of legs up front these days and Rooney’s no longer look quite strong enough.

Roy Hodgson, on the other hand, will be hoping for more options to get the best from his main man. And he has been exactly that over the years. Too much onus has rested on those broad shoulders. It is high time that others stepped up to the mark.

Of those, Harry Kane’s particular style looks a good fit should Hodgson decide to drop Rooney deeper. The Tottenham Hotspur player’s international inexperience should not be forgotten but the way he works the channels and threatens in behind suggests that a decent partnership could be developed.

Rooney, I think, would be happy with that. It eases the pressure, allows him to wander without feeling responsible for goalscoring all the time. He has, after all, chipped in enough already. More than enough in qualifying games. But not, as we know, in any finals, Euro 2004 apart.

So could he do it this time? Well, when it comes to Wayne Rooney, time-to-deliver newspaper articles have been written countless times. On the eve of every tournament, we claim that the time has come for England’s great hope to finally stamp his class.

But Rooney, in a sense, really has delivered now by forcing a rewrite of the history books. In years to come, he will consequently be remembered as something special.